DEMONSTRATION STAGE ON MB ALTERNATIVES FOR STRAWBERRY PRODUCTION IN HUELVA (SPAIN). J.M. López-Aranda (1)*, J.J. Medina (2) and L.

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1 DEMONSTRATION STAGE ON MB ALTERNATIVES FOR STRAWBERRY PRODUCTION IN HUELVA (SPAIN). J.M. López-Aranda (1)*, J.J. Medina (2) and L. Miranda (2) (1) CIFA Málaga, CAP-Junta de Andalucía, Churriana (Málaga), Spain (2) CIFA Las Torres-Tomegil, CAP-JA, Moguer (Huelva), Spain Spain is the second strawberry producer after United States (California). In particular, the cultivation area of Huelva has an acreage of 8,000 ha and 250,000 mt/year for fresh fruit production. These figures confirm clearly that it is the most important strawberry area in Europe. Average yield has been increasing to nearly 45 mt/ha. Harvesting begins in the first week of January and finishes in June. Well-drained and acidic soils with sandy texture, low pressure of soil-borne pathogens, low conductivity of irrigation water and mild climate in fruiting fields are attributes of the Huelva area which make it exceptional for strawberry production. The strawberry industry is the main economic support for important localities in the area (i.e. Lepe, Cartaya, Moguer, Palos de la Frontera. and Almonte). In relation to alternatives to Methyl Bromide (MB) for soil fumigation, the National project INIA SC has finished its fifth year in the 2002 season. After the four-year work in the area of Huelva ( ), our consistent and reiterative results support that short-term alternatives to MB do exist for the strawberry industry in the area (López-Aranda et al., 2000, 2001, 2002) and their economical evaluation is in a cost effective manner (Calatrava and Casado, 2002). These short-term MB alternatives have been developed for strawberry and used at field demonstration stage during the 2002 season in five different locations (strawberry grower companies with adequate size and technological level in cultivation with fresh plant material of cv. Camarosa under standard large plastic tunnels). These MB alternatives are chemical, non-chemical and mixed, to fulfill the several types of cultivation systems: conventional, integrated management and organic production. The following possibilities have been established: a) annual shank-application of 1,3 dichloropropene-chloropicrin (61:35) under pre-formed raised beds (40 cc/m 2 of treated area) ( Telopic or other similar chemicals); also, shank-application with half-dosage (20 cc/m 2 of treated area) under black VIF sheets ( Telopic VIF); b) annual incorporation of Dazomet located under pre-formed raised beds (50 g/m 2 of treated area); c) soil solarization (4 weeks, August) with simultaneous shank application of Metam Sodium (75 cc/m 2 broadcast area) ( Sol.+MS ); soil solarization (4 weeks, August) with simultaneous biofumigation (fresh chicken manure incorporation, 4-5 kg/m 2 ) ( Sol.+Biof. ). Using as control MB-pic (50:50) under pre-formed raised beds (40 g/m 2 of treated area), which it is considered as current standard practice in the whole Huelva area.

2 The five field demonstration assays were carried out in farms located at Cartaya (Surfruit Inc.), Moguer (Frestaber Inc. and Occifresa Inc.) and Palos de la Frontera (Cumbres Malvinas Inc. and Fresnuria Inc.); these private farms have a similar and habitual history in relation to precedent crops (strawberry) and soil fumigation (MB) for more than 10 years (except Surfruit Inc. demonstration); type and surface of demonstration assays, soil fumigation period, planting date and plant density are represented in Table 1. Soil from each field demonstration and location was analysed before and after treatments; also plant samples were taken during the growing season. The demonstrations sanitary status were normal. In relation to soil-borne fungi (Verticillium spp., P. cactorum) and root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) neither of them appeared. In Table 2 Plant survivals (%), just after plantation dates and at mid growing season (half March, 2002) are presented; these percentages were normal (more than 95%); only in the case of Surfruit Inc. field demonstration with Solarization+Biofumigation, the percentage was lower than normal (92%) and reached a very poor vaule (76.1%) at the end of the growing season. This problem could be related with the incorporation of fresh chicken manure as biofumigant (in this case 5 kg/m 2 ) simultaneous to solarization practice (in our solarization system, soil strips of cm wide remains without disinfestation among P.E. sheets (Medina-Mínguez, 2002)). Also in Table 2 are presented plant diameter and number of leaves, the tendencies observed are very similar to the obtained yields presented in Table 3. In Table 3, harvesting period (from February to May), early and total commercial yield by plant and by surface and also averaged fruit size are presented. In general, these results (2002) show a productivity tendency similar to our previous four-year work ( ): very similar yields to MB in the case of Telopic, Telopic VIF and Dazomet (Surfruit Inc., Occifresa Inc., Fresnuria Inc. and Cumbres Malvinas Inc.) and lower yields with Sol.+MS (soil solarization with simultaneous Metam Sodium, 75 cc/m 2 ). In the case of Sol.+Biof. demonstrations (Surfruit Inc. and Frestaber Inc.), the potential productivity was similar to MB in spite of the abnormal abiotic plant mortality observed in Surfruit Inc. demonstration. These alternatives could suppose an appropriate short and medium-term response to MB ban in environments with low inoculum levels of lethal soil-borne strawberry pathogens, as is the case of Huelva. However, there are very important question marks and remaining challenges for short and, mainly, medium-term that are necessary to rise. The most important ones are related with the national and EU policy on pesticides utilization (in particular with 1,3 dichloropropene and/or chloropicrin utilization) as well as costumers and consumers expectations (EU ban on the agricultural use of big quantities of livestock manure in the case of Sol.+Biofumigation). Due to these reasons, recent applications for critical use exemption made by the Spanish strawberry industry (fruit growers and nurseries) are underway. On the other hand, new field demonstrations in the area and a new three years National Project has been recently started. All these aspects will be discussed.

3 References Calatrava, J. and Casado, J.P Economic evaluation of Methyl Bromide alternatives in Spanish strawberry crops. Proc. International Conference on Alternatives to Methyl Bromide. The Remaining Challenges. Seville 5-8 March: 325. López-Aranda, J.M., Medina, J.J., Miranda, L. and Domínguez, F Three years of short-term alternatives to MB on Huelva strawberries. Proc Annual International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reductions. November 6-9, Orlando, USA. Pp. 10/1-10/6. López-Aranda, J.M., Romero, F., Montes, F., Medina, J.J., Miranda, L., De Los Santos, B., Vega, J.M., Páez, J.I., Domínguez, F., López-Medina, J. and Flores, F Chemical and non-chemical alternatives to MB fumigation of soil for strawberry results. Proc Annual International Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reductions. November 5-9, San Diego, USA. Pp. 40/1-40/4. López-Aranda et al Alternatives to Methyl Bromide for use in strawberry production and nurseries in Spain. Proc. International Conference on Alternatives to Methyl Bromide. The Remaining Challenges. Seville 5-8 March: Medina-Mínguez, J.J Soil solarization and biofumigation in strawberry in Spain. Proc. International Conference on Alternatives to Methyl Bromide. The Remaining Challenges. Seville 5-8 March: Table 1. Demonstrations. Preliminary data. Location (company, area) Surfruit (Tariquejo, Cartaya) Frestaber (Avitorejo, Moguer) Occifresa (Avitorejo, Moguer) C.Malvinas (Malvinas, Palos F.) Fresnuria (Malvinas, Palos F.) Demonst. assays Plot history Demo surface (m 2 ) Application period Planting date Planting density (plant/ha) Tunnel cover date Telopic Cereals, 2270 Sep, Oct, Nov, 30 Sol+Biof never 2270 Jul,25 to Aug, 25 Oct, Nov, 30 Sol+MS fumigated 2270 Jul,25 to Aug, 25 Oct, Nov, 30 BM 2270 Sep, Oct, Nov, years Sol+Biof with MB 2940 Jul,17 to Aug, 16 Oct, Dec, 21 Sol+MS and 2980 Jul,17 to Aug, 16 Oct, Dec, 21 BM strawberry 2940 October, 1-2 Oct, Dec, years Dazomet with MB 2742 Sep, 14 Oct, Nov, 17 Telopic and 2742 Sep, 14 Oct, Nov, 17 BM strawberry 2742 Sep, 14 Oct, Nov, years Telopic with MB 2148 Sep, Oct, Nov, 25 Dazomet and 2148 Sep, Oct, Nov, 25 BM strawberry 2280 Sep, Oct, Nov, years TelopicVIF with MB 1980 Aug, 31 Oct, Nov, 27 Telopic and 1980 Aug, 31 Oct, Nov, 27 BM strawberry 1920 Aug, 31 Oct, Nov, 27

4 Table 2. Plant survival after re-plant, and plant size. Location Demonst. Plant survival (%) Plant diameter (cm) Number of leaves Nov, 7 Mar, 13 May, 20 Dec,20 Feb, 20 Apr, 23 Dec,20 Feb, 20 Apr,23 Surfruit BM Sol+Biof Sol+MS Telopic n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d n.d. 7-Nov 15-Mar Frestaber BM Sol+Biof Sol+MS Nov 15-Mar Occifresa BM Dazomet Telopic Nov 18-Mar C.Malvinas BM Telopic Dazomet Nov 18-Mar Fresnuria BM , Telopic TelopicVIF Table 3. Harvesting data, commercial yield in g/plant and kg/ha and average fruit size. Location Demonst. assays Harvesting period Commercial yield (g/plant) until end of (month) Commercial yield (kg/ha) until end of First Last Number March April May March May Fruit size (g/fr.) Surfruit BM Feb, 7 May, ,7 Sol+Biof Feb, 7 May, ,3 Sol+MS Feb, 7 May, ,4 Telopic Feb, 7 May, ,9 Frestaber BM Feb, 5 May, ,4 Sol+Biof Feb, 5 May, ,3 Sol+MS Feb, 5 May, ,8 Occifresa BM Feb, 7 May, ,4 Dazomet Feb, 7 May, ,3 Telopic Feb, 7 May, ,0 C.Malvinas BM Feb, 1 May, ,3 Telopic Feb, 1 May, ,9 Dazomet Feb, 1 May, ,5 Fresnuria BM Feb, 5 May, ,7 Telopic Feb, 5 May, ,2 Telopic VIF Feb, 5 May, ,5

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